There are more consumer goods being transported in single parcel shipments now due to the rise in e-commerce, which has led to an increase of landfill as a result of the widespread use of single-use plastics. Tape supplier tesa is actively working to help ease these pressures.
According to Australia Post, more packaging is arriving on doorsteps across the nation with extended lockdowns and parcel volumes hitting heights not seen since Christmas last year.
More than 9 million Australians shopped online in the past financial year, with Australia Post’s 2021 Inside Online Shopping eCommerce report revealing almost 32 per cent growth year-on-year to June 2021.
In terms of single-use plastic packaging tape, it is estimated that each year we consume 915 billion metres globally, which is equivalent to traveling from Earth to Mars twice over.
tesa is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of adhesive solutions, developing innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive system solutions for various industries, commercial customers and consumers. Its latest offering includes packaging tapes made with paper from well-managed, responsible sources, and bio-based materials.
First up, the tesa 60400 is the first bio-based tape in its range, and is almost entirely made from renewable feedstocks.
The backing material chosen for this tape is PLA, and the bio-plastic material is made from annually renewable, plant-based materials such as corn starch, tapioca roots and sugarcane.
In addition to natural rubber, a natural-based resin is also used, which almost completely replaces the use of petroleum-based materials. Combined with the backing material, the tesa 60400 has a total bio-carbon content of 98 per cent.
Another sustainable product in the tesa range is the 4713, which is a paper tape made from controlled and responsible sources, and can be disposed together with the cardboard without disturbing the recycling process.
Moving forward, tesa’s sustainability goals will see it double the number of sustainable products in the range, halve CO2 emissions, and source 80 per cent of materials from certified and sustainable suppliers by 2025.
